Origin

The Festivities of Sant Maties are celebrated in honor of the patron saint of Montblanc. Initially, the town’s patron was Sant Jordi (Saint George), but in 1687, he was replaced by Sant Maties (Saint Matthias) following a popular vote, after he was believed to have saved Montblanc from a devastating locust plague.

The origins of the current festivities date back to the old “fairs,” which were held in Montblanc from December 6th to 8th between 1844 and 1971. These fairs were very popular, serving as a marketplace for horses, sheep, local agricultural products, and a wide variety of other goods. On the eve of the festivities, the traditional procession to and from Compline took place, with the Seguici Popular, the festive entourage, accompanying the town authorities—an event considered the precursor to the modern-day procession.

For several years, a multisector fair with a strong focus on gastronomy and wine was also held. Over time, the fair gradually lost prominence until it was discontinued in 2007.